The smallest kitchen, as some of you may already know, is not necessarily the best kitchen, since space in a tiny kitchen is at a premium. However, a tiny kitchen can be made more functional and efficient with some careful planning and creativity. The following six mistakes to avoid when decorating a tiny kitchen will help you make every inch of the space as useful as possible.
First and foremost, if you want your small kitchen to be a productive workspace, then it’s important that you maximize storage space so that you don’t waste food, utensils and appliances. Small kitchens often have limited cupboard space so you may want to consider buying additional storage furniture for this space. For instance, a few extra cabinets under the sink or underneath the countertop would add to the overall efficiency of the space.
When decorating small kitchens, it’s also important that you use countertop material that is durable and resistant to stains and scratches. Many of the newer countertop materials available are made with glass, acrylic, terrazzo, granite and other non-porous materials, which make them less likely to scratch and chip. If you want to avoid these common problems, then choose a countertop material that is easy to clean and protect against damage.
Another thing to keep in mind while designing a small kitchen is the color scheme. While neutral colors are probably the best choice in decorating a small space, there are a few colors that work especially well in this type of room. To create the illusion of more space, use light blue for the walls and pale wood tones for the cabinets, floor and countertops.
Don’t forget to plan your lighting for a small kitchen. Bright fluorescent lights are ideal for illuminating your workspace while keeping the room cool, but you can use other types of lighting such as overhead lighting, floor lamps, wall sconces, centerpieces and pendant lights.
You might also want to think about adding a few accessories to a small kitchen, such as a coffee table or a place to set a plate, if you have one. If you don’t, you might want to use a single serving area as a breakfast nook, which is a great way to make an uncluttered space even more organized.
Another mistake to avoid when decorating a little space is not planning out the layout before you start decorating. For instance, if your kitchen has only a small worktop and doesn’t have any cabinets or drawers, then don’t assume that you will have enough storage space for all the appliances, utensils and dishes, so you might want to add some more cabinets, shelves or cupboards.
It’s also important that you plan how to organize your kitchen once the project is completed. This may include a layout plan, where you will place appliances, pantry items, stove, refrigerator, sink and microwave. or even where you will put everything, including a cabinet for the dishwasher.
If you’re redesigning a large room, make sure that you consider how many cabinets and drawers you need to create a good flow and a sense of order. Try to figure out how much storage space you have at your disposal and what you need to put away and where you can use that space for your next project. For instance, if you have a lot of dishes that you use frequently, then it might be best to hang them on a hanger so you won’t have to reach for them every time you need a spoon. A good rule of thumb is to find the most space that would fit under the sink or dish rack and then divide that space into separate compartments.
When decorating a small kitchen, consider using glass to create a more spacious feel. A large glass cabinet door with frosted glass shelves would give a modern look to a small space. However, for a more traditional look, you could use solid wood in conjunction with wood cabinets to create a more traditional look.
Use glass trim around the doors and windows, but do your best to choose wood veneers to match the color and style of the rest of the kitchen. To finish off the decorating design, you may want to use glassware or even a few painted decorative elements to really dress up the space.
The key to making a small room appear larger is to use space wisely. Using all the available space and the space that are at your disposal to its fullest effect, rather than trying to cram it all into a small space.